Yes a new review is up and this time we're covering Nitrome's physics based puzzler: Powerup. I found this one a bit more challengine (hence the review delay!) but wanted to make sure I was sure about it all as usual.
Click here to read the Powerup review!
I'm working hard on this week's article possibilities. It may not be a continuation of My Mmorpg Life that I started last weekend. I have something special in the pipeline, but if it'll work in the end - who knows?
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
Monday, 27 April 2009
Plants Versus Zombies - There's a zombie on your lawn!
I'd seen this advertised on Steam and had kind of ignored it on account of it being a Popcap game. I kind of imagined this would be some hidden object game set in a garden or something but it turns out to be a tower defence game. I think I'm addicted to those so I'll be getting this when it's released.
The great bit so far though is the music video: "There's a zombie on your lawn"
Let's have a watch:
and then in Japanese just for fun!
It kind of puts me in mind of the music video's on the disney channel (I blame Jo for that). The only thing it's missing is that text you usually get in the bottom left of music videos at the start and end describing the song name, artist, etc... That would have been quite cool.
The official link is this: http://www.plantsvszombies.com
It's out in a couple of weeks and, since this is popcap, I'd expect a demo too. Personally I'll be getting it on steam despite the 10% discount popcap are offering.
The great bit so far though is the music video: "There's a zombie on your lawn"
Let's have a watch:
and then in Japanese just for fun!
It kind of puts me in mind of the music video's on the disney channel (I blame Jo for that). The only thing it's missing is that text you usually get in the bottom left of music videos at the start and end describing the song name, artist, etc... That would have been quite cool.
The official link is this: http://www.plantsvszombies.com
It's out in a couple of weeks and, since this is popcap, I'd expect a demo too. Personally I'll be getting it on steam despite the 10% discount popcap are offering.
Saturday, 25 April 2009
My MMORPG Life: The Journey Begins!
Yes today I release the first of series of articles that will chronicle my adventures across the different virtual hemispheres offered by the biggest MMORPG games available today.
I've often viewed these games from afar wondering what kind of person can dedicate their spare time to play these games, and what kind of wallets can afford the monthly subscription fees. So I decided to find out!
Click here to read part One of "My MMORPG Life"!
I've also spent most of the day trying to figure out if I should do a Video based article/review of something PC Game related. But it's turning out to be very difficult! Even more so than I imagined so if I eventually manage that it'll be a few weeks yet! Maybe a monthly thing?
I missed a review deadline yesterday, something I hate doing but I just didn't have the time to play through the game enough to be fair - I'd rather miss a deadline than publish a badly written review! There will be more reviews next week however!
I've often viewed these games from afar wondering what kind of person can dedicate their spare time to play these games, and what kind of wallets can afford the monthly subscription fees. So I decided to find out!
Click here to read part One of "My MMORPG Life"!
I've also spent most of the day trying to figure out if I should do a Video based article/review of something PC Game related. But it's turning out to be very difficult! Even more so than I imagined so if I eventually manage that it'll be a few weeks yet! Maybe a monthly thing?
I missed a review deadline yesterday, something I hate doing but I just didn't have the time to play through the game enough to be fair - I'd rather miss a deadline than publish a badly written review! There will be more reviews next week however!
Friday, 24 April 2009
Recent site updates.
Two new pages were added yesterday!
Firstly we have a new page about PC game hardware where I discuss what I usually think before buying anything new. After buying upgrades for over 10 years now I've come up with some good rules that help me decide if upgrading is the way to go!
Click here to read the PC Game hardware article
Secondly there is a new information page about PC game patches. If you're new to PC gaming then this will be worth a read! I explain why patches are necessary and what they are supposed to do. I also touch on where to find them!
Click here to read the PC game patches article
As usual there will be a new game review tonight so stay tuned for that!
Firstly we have a new page about PC game hardware where I discuss what I usually think before buying anything new. After buying upgrades for over 10 years now I've come up with some good rules that help me decide if upgrading is the way to go!
Click here to read the PC Game hardware article
Secondly there is a new information page about PC game patches. If you're new to PC gaming then this will be worth a read! I explain why patches are necessary and what they are supposed to do. I also touch on where to find them!
Click here to read the PC game patches article
As usual there will be a new game review tonight so stay tuned for that!
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Bad news about Daggerfall!
I've just had a very disapointing reply from Bethesda regarding Daggerfall.
Essentially they say that it'll never, ever be re-released in any shape or form. This is really a huge shame for several reasons.
Mainly because it gives people a good reason to go looking for a pirate/torrent version. It fuels the need for sites that run these torrents and in my (probably far too honest) opinion is a bad thing. Also releasing the game for free (or on Good Old Games or such) would be great advertising for their future and recent titles.
However, you never know what will happen if they realise demand is there so if you were thinking of contacting them about this it can't hurt.
I'll let you know if I hear anything further!
Essentially they say that it'll never, ever be re-released in any shape or form. This is really a huge shame for several reasons.
Mainly because it gives people a good reason to go looking for a pirate/torrent version. It fuels the need for sites that run these torrents and in my (probably far too honest) opinion is a bad thing. Also releasing the game for free (or on Good Old Games or such) would be great advertising for their future and recent titles.
However, you never know what will happen if they realise demand is there so if you were thinking of contacting them about this it can't hurt.
I'll let you know if I hear anything further!
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Broken Picture Telephone!
This little gem was pointed out to me recently from one of our favourite readers! And I just had to review it. It plays on the premise of "Chinese whispers" but with drawing mixed in.
It's very much worth a quick go, but have a read of the review first to get an idea of what to expect!
Click here to read the Broken picture telephone review!
It's very much worth a quick go, but have a read of the review first to get an idea of what to expect!
Click here to read the Broken picture telephone review!
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
My first spam comment - I'm so happy!
It's kind of strange but because of that I feel accepted by the interweb!
Even better it was game related spam! So I must be on the right tracks with the site or blog since they must have found me somehow.
If whoever submitted the comment is reading however - if it wasn't intended as spam you should have thought about what you wrote. I'm not here to visit your site that's crammed with ads nor to give you a link score. If you have a game you've written that's worth checking out then I'll take a look, otherwise shoo!
Here's to many more to come!
Even better it was game related spam! So I must be on the right tracks with the site or blog since they must have found me somehow.
If whoever submitted the comment is reading however - if it wasn't intended as spam you should have thought about what you wrote. I'm not here to visit your site that's crammed with ads nor to give you a link score. If you have a game you've written that's worth checking out then I'll take a look, otherwise shoo!
Here's to many more to come!
Monday, 20 April 2009
Hack'n'slash action: Hero's arms!
I've just put the review up for Hero's arms - a new flash rpg adventure game from Berzerk Studio. It's in the vein of more retro games such as Zelda, being a top down view style game, and I thought it worked fairly well but...
Well you should read the rest of the review! Click here to read the Hero's Arms review
I've also been working a little on the Troubleshooting guides. I think there really is a lack of static information on what common issues there are when trying to run games and one day someone will thank me for it I'm sure! Click here to have a look
Well you should read the rest of the review! Click here to read the Hero's Arms review
I've also been working a little on the Troubleshooting guides. I think there really is a lack of static information on what common issues there are when trying to run games and one day someone will thank me for it I'm sure! Click here to have a look
New Campaign! Bring Daggerfall back!
Some of you may remember the first (best?) EldarScrolls game: Daggerfall! released for dos many years ago. This was my first really large RPG that I played, and what really got me into RPG games in the first place!
Well, after seeing many questions on Yahoo answers about where to get this from I found it was not easy to get it (legally) anywhere! Second hand copies are terribly expensive and not really worth it. So to get some answers about a possible re-release I decided to email Bethesda about it:
Hello there!
I currently run a gaming website (http://www.pc-games-and-reviews.com) and as part of that I'm constantly answering game problem questions on Yahoo Answers.
Over the last two weeks I have seen no less that 4 questions asking where they can get hold of Daggerfall, your fantastic RPG from a few years back. The worst part is that some people are replying with torrent urls, which is something that really irks me!
Knowing that we can currently download Arena for free I was enquiring to see if Daggerfall will be released for free at any point? Or at least as a low cost download on steam for example?
Please let me know!
best regards
Andy Yates
At the very least I think it would be great if they re-released this on the good old games site for a cheap price.
I implore you all to do the same and join me in this campaign! Send them an email using their contact form and ask (nicely please) if we can have our daggerfall back! URL: http://www.bethsoft.com/eng/contact_email.php
Friday, 17 April 2009
Game Review: Cogs!
Yes I've been reviewing again and this time it's the fantastically complex Cogs game by Lazy 8 studios.
Some great puzzle ideas in this one and the levels are...well you can read the review and find out!
Click here to read the Cogs review!
We've got a whole week of free game reviews lined up for next week as we've neglected those for a while so stay tuned! There won't be an article this week as, even though I've had the week off work, I've just not been home to work on it! However there should be a pretty good one the week after to make up for it.
Also...
I completely forgot to blog about Monday's review of "And yet It Moves" for some reason. Click here to read the "And Yet it Moves" Review
It's one of those conceptual games that sound like a good idea on paper, but when you actually play it...well, you'll have to read the review to find out!
That's all for today, back to helping people on yahoo answers!
Some great puzzle ideas in this one and the levels are...well you can read the review and find out!
Click here to read the Cogs review!
We've got a whole week of free game reviews lined up for next week as we've neglected those for a while so stay tuned! There won't be an article this week as, even though I've had the week off work, I've just not been home to work on it! However there should be a pretty good one the week after to make up for it.
Also...
I completely forgot to blog about Monday's review of "And yet It Moves" for some reason. Click here to read the "And Yet it Moves" Review
It's one of those conceptual games that sound like a good idea on paper, but when you actually play it...well, you'll have to read the review to find out!
That's all for today, back to helping people on yahoo answers!
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Give me my moral limits back!
Some of you know I've dabbled in game development myself. I think all game reviewers should, it gives you a unique perspective into game design and provides you with empathy towards other developers.
However...
There are times when I see something that just is not agreeable and no matter how starving a developer you are there still should be limits! There are far worse things than what Jack Thomson would refer to as "murder simulators" like GTA or violent fantasy games such as the Final Final series. These games are the ones that are much closer to reality and really could affect people in an adverse way.
Someone asked a question on Yahoo Answers that I thought was a little nuts. They were asking if there were any "online plastic surgery" games where you can have a different nose or a tuck or - well you get the idea. I laughed, but did a google search anyway, as I often do, to confirm the first answer where someone had said "No, that would be wrong".
But he was wrong. There really is such a thing - or at least there was. A game with the well thought out title "Miss Bimbo" (I kid you not) allowed you to have surgery in game. From the registration screens (I didn't bother to register, for obvious reasons) it looks like they have taken this out but the whole concept still bothers me.
Possibly I am alone in my worries!
It feels like another bi-product of the sims, some kind of doll simulator. I kind of feel how Lisa Simpson must have done in that Malibu Stacey episode. Surely this isn't healthy? I can't imagine it's sending a good message to all the young girls who play this. Is this what they must aspire to? On the other hand I suppose this is the image portrayed by television.
After seeing this I was compelled by unknown forces to blog my worries so here they are. Unlike the mass hysterical group against violent games however, I sit in the hope that only girls who are like this already would be affected by it.
However...
There are times when I see something that just is not agreeable and no matter how starving a developer you are there still should be limits! There are far worse things than what Jack Thomson would refer to as "murder simulators" like GTA or violent fantasy games such as the Final Final series. These games are the ones that are much closer to reality and really could affect people in an adverse way.
Someone asked a question on Yahoo Answers that I thought was a little nuts. They were asking if there were any "online plastic surgery" games where you can have a different nose or a tuck or - well you get the idea. I laughed, but did a google search anyway, as I often do, to confirm the first answer where someone had said "No, that would be wrong".
But he was wrong. There really is such a thing - or at least there was. A game with the well thought out title "Miss Bimbo" (I kid you not) allowed you to have surgery in game. From the registration screens (I didn't bother to register, for obvious reasons) it looks like they have taken this out but the whole concept still bothers me.Possibly I am alone in my worries!
It feels like another bi-product of the sims, some kind of doll simulator. I kind of feel how Lisa Simpson must have done in that Malibu Stacey episode. Surely this isn't healthy? I can't imagine it's sending a good message to all the young girls who play this. Is this what they must aspire to? On the other hand I suppose this is the image portrayed by television.
After seeing this I was compelled by unknown forces to blog my worries so here they are. Unlike the mass hysterical group against violent games however, I sit in the hope that only girls who are like this already would be affected by it.
Disabled people and PC games article
I've just posted the latest article up, which discusses disabled people and PC gaming. It's one of those subjects that needs to be highlighted more in my opinion.
Click here to read the article!
Not quite as long as usual perhaps but there are some interesting links to sites that have done far more on this subject than I could do in a week!
As usual, please let me know what you think via the Contact Form!
Click here to read the article!
Not quite as long as usual perhaps but there are some interesting links to sites that have done far more on this subject than I could do in a week!
As usual, please let me know what you think via the Contact Form!
Thursday, 9 April 2009
I am intrigued!
This Zeno clash game on steam has sparked my interest. Not because it's a first person fighting game - but because it's a single player game! I originally expected this to be one of those multiplayer only deals. Y'know, where you're all bunged in an arena and expected to beat one another to death, while the developers watch from source-tv, rubbing their hands together with glee.
But that doesn't appear to be what it's like at all!
Their recent trailer really drove the point home for me:
As it says at the end of the trailer - pre-purchase gets you 25% off. It's very tempting but as with anything minus a demo, a bit of a risk!
Check it out here
But that doesn't appear to be what it's like at all!
Their recent trailer really drove the point home for me:
As it says at the end of the trailer - pre-purchase gets you 25% off. It's very tempting but as with anything minus a demo, a bit of a risk!
Check it out here
Caster Review!
Ok, so I've completed this Indie offering.
You can read the review here!
And it's worth reading. The game itself, well it's not the best game I've ever played (Not sure what that would be actually?) but when you consider that this is basically the work of one man with a vision.
*Ahem* I get like that with indie games sometimes. The "And yet it moves" review is in progress. Also a review of Defense grid is in the offing from Jon! So it's all independent around here at the moment.
The site still needs some work - the menu on the left is messed up now but hopefully I'll have it sorted in the next few days! As usual, let me know what you think via the contact form!
You can read the review here!
And it's worth reading. The game itself, well it's not the best game I've ever played (Not sure what that would be actually?) but when you consider that this is basically the work of one man with a vision.
*Ahem* I get like that with indie games sometimes. The "And yet it moves" review is in progress. Also a review of Defense grid is in the offing from Jon! So it's all independent around here at the moment.
The site still needs some work - the menu on the left is messed up now but hopefully I'll have it sorted in the next few days! As usual, let me know what you think via the contact form!
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Site Updates
No review today!
I've just been too busy trying to get a nicer look and feel to the site that's a lot less...corporate. It just didn't reflect what the site is about so please check out the new look!
Also I've been working more on the troubleshooting guides that took up a bit of my time.
However! I have been playing some indie games this week. Caster and And yet it moves are on the review list currently. They're both independent games, but I wonder if you can guess which one I prefered?
I've just been too busy trying to get a nicer look and feel to the site that's a lot less...corporate. It just didn't reflect what the site is about so please check out the new look!
Also I've been working more on the troubleshooting guides that took up a bit of my time.
However! I have been playing some indie games this week. Caster and And yet it moves are on the review list currently. They're both independent games, but I wonder if you can guess which one I prefered?
Monday, 6 April 2009
Battleforge review and site updates!
So yes, after over a week of playing this to make sure my early assumptions were correct (and they were) I have completed the Battleforge review. Like I said, it's taken a bit longer than usual - mainly so I could appreciate the different game modes offered and, well more is obviously revealed in the review!
Click here to read the review!
The problem is now that I have no idea what to review next! Nothing has really stood out for me recently!
I'm also going to be working on a new section over the next few days based around possible solutions for getting games to work. I've been helping out on Yahoo Answers for almost a week now and one thing that has stood out is that some people don't know how to upgrade their gfx cards or know how to even find out what gfx card they have. This section will be setup to help people like that.
Click here to view this so far!
As always I love feedback in either direction! So let me know by sending me a note via the contact form
Click here to read the review!
The problem is now that I have no idea what to review next! Nothing has really stood out for me recently!
I'm also going to be working on a new section over the next few days based around possible solutions for getting games to work. I've been helping out on Yahoo Answers for almost a week now and one thing that has stood out is that some people don't know how to upgrade their gfx cards or know how to even find out what gfx card they have. This section will be setup to help people like that.
Click here to view this so far!
As always I love feedback in either direction! So let me know by sending me a note via the contact form
Sunday, 5 April 2009
We declare war on publishers!
Well actually no.
But we are questioning their role in today's Internet based market place.
Jon's latest article discusses why publishers were here in the first place and what they are up to these days where there is no physical distribution method required in most cases.
Click here to read the article!
(The BattleForge review will finally be finished for tomorrow! Whey!)
But we are questioning their role in today's Internet based market place.
Jon's latest article discusses why publishers were here in the first place and what they are up to these days where there is no physical distribution method required in most cases.
Click here to read the article!
(The BattleForge review will finally be finished for tomorrow! Whey!)
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Mirror Image reviewed.
Jon has released his "Mirror Image" review - another fantastic flash offering from Nitrome. They are, if you've not noticed, our favourite flash game provider recently. Mainly because they offer quality titles!
This game is a bit of a puzzler so if you're after something to play while you're waiting for the tedium of work to be over, this should easily keep you occupied!
Click here to read the Mirror Image review
I've not had the time to play Battleforge recently, but I did get to explore some of it's other options this morning and...well I'm not too impressed with one particular "feature" after having paid for it! I'm sure you're already aware of the issues, but for those who are not I'll wait for the review to rant about it!
Hello to all the new readers by the way! I've noticed the visitor numbers increase recently and nothing makes me happier! Please let me know what you think of the site by using the Contact Form!
This game is a bit of a puzzler so if you're after something to play while you're waiting for the tedium of work to be over, this should easily keep you occupied!
Click here to read the Mirror Image review
I've not had the time to play Battleforge recently, but I did get to explore some of it's other options this morning and...well I'm not too impressed with one particular "feature" after having paid for it! I'm sure you're already aware of the issues, but for those who are not I'll wait for the review to rant about it!
Hello to all the new readers by the way! I've noticed the visitor numbers increase recently and nothing makes me happier! Please let me know what you think of the site by using the Contact Form!
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Community Service!
I've recently registered on Yahoo answers to try and help out people with PC game (and other platforms!) with their play-problems and running issues. I've got a fair bit of experience in these matters that there's no point in sharing on this site.
Also it's way of letting people know about the site and how awesome I am. Really.
So, the review for wednesday has been delayed for a day. Normal service will resume tomorrow!
Also it's way of letting people know about the site and how awesome I am. Really.
So, the review for wednesday has been delayed for a day. Normal service will resume tomorrow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)